Outboard motor clamp safety lock and guard



y 9, 1961 E. A. HRUBY 2,983,133

OUTBOARD MOTOR CLAMP SAFETY LOCK AND GUARD Filed Aug. 11, 1959 IN VENT OR.

45' 1/; [NE ,4, HAM/5y United States Patent OUTBOARD MOTOR CLAMP SAFETY LOCK AND GUARD Eugene A. Hruby, Rte. 1, Sauk City, Wis.

Filed Aug. 11, 1959, Ser. No. 833,076

2 Claims. (CI. 7058) This invention relates to locks particularly designed for retaining outboard motors on transoms of boats, and in particular a lock secured on a motor clamp screw between an outer arm and a pressure plate on the end of the screw whereby the possibility of the clamp screw working loose as the result of vibrations of the motor is substantially eliminated, and also wherein the possibility of the motor being removed from the boat by an unauthorized person is also substantially eliminated.

The purpose of this invention is to prevent removal of outboard motors from transoms of motor boats by unauthorized persons or accidental displacement of outboard motors from boats resulting from loosening of clamp screws.

In numerous instances outboard motors remain on boats in boat yards or secured to docks and the like and with conventional mountings it is possible to release the motor by turning the clamp screw and, consequently, many outboard motors are stolen. Continuous rocking of waves and vibrations resulting from operation of the motor often cause the clamp screws to turn whereby the motor clamp is loose and with the mounting clamp loose the motor may accidentally be displaced from a boat in a storm or the like. With this thought in mind this invention contemplates a lock extended around the motor clamp screw and positioned between the outer arm and pressure plate on the end of the screw whereby it is substantially impossible for the clamp screw to rotate and loosen the mounting.

The object of this invention is, therefore, to provide means for positively locking an outboard motor clamp on a transom of a boat to prevent accidental displacement of the motor or to prevent the motor being removed by an unauthorized person.

Another object of the invention is to provide a safety locking guard for an outboard motor clamp in which the locking guard may be locked in position on motor clamp screws of conventional clamps without changing the screw or clamp.

A further object of the invention is to provide a safety locking guard for an outboard motor mounting clamp in which the lock and guard are of simple and economical construction.

With these and other objects and advantages in view the invention embodies a lock base and a cap, each having semi-circular recesses therein for fitting snugly over the clamp screw of an outboard motor mounting clamp and a lock barrel extended from the base and having locking elements therein for preventing separation of the cap from the base without a key.

Other features and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description taken in connection with the drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side-elevational view of an outboard motor clamp positioned on the transom of a boat and in which the safety lock and guard of this invention is positioned on the clamp screw between an outer arm of the clamp and the'pressure plate on the end of the screw.

7 clamp 21 and the pressure plate 36 'whereby the possi- 2,983,133 Patented M ay 9, 19 61 Figure 2 is a front elevational view of the clamp also showing the lock and guard on one of the clamp screws thereof.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal section through the lock, with the parts shown on an enlarged scale showing a guard extended around the pressure plate on the end ofthe motor clamp screw.

Figure 4 is a cross-section through the lock showing the screw actuated lock bolt, also with the parts shown on an enlarged scale.

Figure 5 is a view looking upwardly toward the lowe side of the lock. I

Figure 6 is an exploded view illustrating the relative positions of the lock base, cap, and valve.

Referring now to' the drawing wherein like reference characters denote corresponding parts the improved safety lock and guard of this invention includes a base 10, a cap 11, and a lock barrel 12. i

The lock barrel 12 is provided with a cylinder 13 having a key slot 14 therein, and a lock bolt 15 extends between teeth of a key 16 and a notch 17 in a bolt '18. Turning the key '16 actuates the lock bo1t'15 to release the bolt 18 whereby the safety locking guard may be removed fiom a clamp screw 19 of an arm 20 of a motor mounting clamp 21. The lock cylinder 13 is provided with a face plate or flange 22 in which the keyslot 14 is positioned.

The bolt 18 is provided with a threaded stud 23 by which the bolt is secured in an opening 24 in the cap 11, and a similar bolt 25 having a threaded stud 26 is secured in an opening 27 in the opposite side of the cap. The bolts 18 and 25 extend from the cap '11 and are positioned to extend into openings 28 and 29 which extend through the base '10 and into the barrel 12.

The end surface 30 of the cap 11 is provided with a flange 3'2 having a beveled edge 33 and the end surface 34 of the base 10 is provided with a similar beveled surface 35 which co-acts with the surface 32 forming a continuous flange which provides a guard over the pressure plate 36 on a stud 37 at the end of the clamp screw 19. The pressure plate 36 is retained in position by a head 38 on the end of the stud 37.

The cap 11 is also provided with a spreader screw 39 having a head 40 with an openingfor a Phillips head screw driver or wrench and the base 10 is provided with a similar spreader screw 41 having a'Phillips head 42. The spreader screws 39 and 41 are preadjustedbefore the base 10 and cap 11 are placed in position so that a snug fit is provided between the heads of the screws 39 and 41 and the pressure plate 36. Thus the screws 39 and 41 take up slack between the base 10, cap 11 and pressure plate 36 and are protected by the flanges 32 and 35 whereby loosening thereof by an unauthorized person is substantially impossible.

The clamp screw 19 is provided with a conventional handle, as indicated by the numeral 43.

The base 10 is provided with a semiecircular recess 44 and the cap 11 is provided with a similar recess 45 whereby the base and cap are assembled over the clamp screw 19, as shown in Figure 4.

With the parts assembled as illustrated and described the safety lock and guard is positioned over the clamp screw 19 with the bolts or pins 18 and 25 extended into corresponding openings 29 and 28 in the base 10 and as the parts are pressed together the lock bolt 15 snaps into the notch 17 of the bolt 18 locking the cap to the base. By this means the cap and base are secured in position on the clamp screw between the arm 20 and the bility of the clamp screw 19 loosening is very slight. The lock and guard will remain in position until the lock bolt '15 is released by the key 16 inserted in the lock cylinder.

With the clamp screw retained in position in this manner it is substantially impossible for an outboard motor to bev accidentally displaced or removed 'by an unauthorized person. I

It will be understood that modifications, within the scope of the appended claims, may be made in the design and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:'

1. In a safety lock that is to be' positioned between a fixed part and a movable part, the combination which comprises a base having a semi-circular recess therein, a cap having a semi-circular recess therein positioned to seat on the base with the semi-circular recess in register- Z a cap having a semi-circular recess therein positioned to seat on the base with the semi-circular recess in registering relation with the semi-circular recess of the base, bolts mounted in the cap and positioned to extend into openings in the base, spreader screws threaded in the cap and base and engaging said movable part for taking up slack between the fixed and movable parts, and a key actuated cylinder lock in the base and positioned to co-act with the notch of one of the bolts for locking the cap on the base, said baseand cap having beveled flanges extended therefrom for covering the outer ends ofthe'spreader screws and the movable part that'is rotatably mounted on the end of a screw nested in the semi-circular recesses of the base and cap, the flanges on said base and cap ing relation with the semi-circular recess "of the base,

bolts mounted in the capand positioned to extend into openings in the base, spreader screws threaded in the cap and base and engaging said movable part for taking up-slack between the fixed and movable parts, and a key actuated cylinder lock' in the base and positioned to co-act with the notch of one of the bolts for locking the cap on the base.

2. In a safety lock that is to be positioned between a 25 fixedpart and a movable part, the combination which comprises a base having a semi-circular recess therein,

preventing unlawful removal of said spreader screws.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNIT D STATES PATENTS 7 Pierre Oct. 5, 1926 1,752,613 Profien Apr. 1, 1930 2,709,356v Bristow -a May 31, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 151,373 Australia May 11, 1953 628,058

Great Britain Aug. 22, 1949 

